Automatic watering-trough



No. 62l,6l0. Patented Mar. 2|, I899. F. MARSH.

AUTOMATIC WATEBING mousn.

[Application filed July 5, 1898.)

(N0 Model.)

lNVE/VTOH ATTORNEY.

a yjf NITED STATES PATENT FFrcE.

FRED MARSH OF GRANT, NEBRASKA.

AUTOMATIC WATE-RING TROUGH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,610, dated March 21, 1899.

' Application filedJulyE, 1898. smart. 685,118. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED MARSH, a citizen of the United States, residing in Grant, in the county of Washington and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Automatic Watering-Trough, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in watering-troughs for farm stock, more particularly swine, in which the water-supply from a larger reservoir is regulated by the op eration of a combined float and flap-valve to start and stop the supply as the drinking-compartments are depleted or filled, the float and valve being located in a chamber in communication with the drinking-compartments; and the objects of my invention are, first, to prevent the ingress of mud and litter to the float and valve chamber from the drinkingoompartment; second, to provide a float and valve and an inclosing chamber therefor,al1 to be readily removable for repairs or cleaning, and, third, to simplify the construction of the valve and float, as well as make their action more simple, direct, and positive than the usual construction of such devices. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the'watering-trough with the float and valve chamber opened. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the broken line 9 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on'the broken line 61 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4: is an elevation of the removable partition 6 out of the trough.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The body of my watering-trough, which I prefer to make of wood, consists of an oblong 4o rectangular box partitioned across to form the trough and like cleats on the front 8", all

set, as shown, so that the partitions may be raised and removed. The top part of the chammade a little longer than the distance apart of the partitions, so that the inclined shoulders 15 and 15 will close against the inclined upward extension of the cleats 9 and 9 and make a close fit. The back of the trough 8 has the central upward extension 8 to form, among other purposes, a back for the chamber and is overlapped by the roof 13, which is fastened down thereon with wood-screws.

The float 5 is made of sheet metal of plan.

conforming to the plan of the chamber and as large of plan as it can be and work freely inside the chamber, the depth of the float being ample to give it the required power. The

so that the front edge can swing up and down freely and not come in contact with the walls of the chamber, the back edge being hinged at its top to the back of the trough and chamber.

A cup 3,formed by a short vertical tube fastened to the top of the float at a central 7 point near the back edge, is filled with cork, rubber, or other like yielding cushion 2 to form with the float a flap valve.

The inletpipe 4 is brought in through the back 8 and the inner end turned downward, so that the closing-cushion 2 is forced squarely against the end of the pipe to stop the flow of water when the, float swings up. The back end of the pipe 4 is threaded, so as to make a tight connection to a larger reservoir 17,'to which the automatic watering-trough is attached. A pair of iron braces 12 and 12', disposed one at each side of the chamber and inclined from the top of the front wall of the trough with their back ends fastened to the larger reservoir above, help to hold the watering-trough in place and protect the chamber against rough treatment by stock.

The float and valve are set so that the top of the float is normally level when the valve'is closed, and the bottom of the float is a little lower than the top of thepartitions 6 and 6 front and back of the float are splayed at top,

and is hinged to the back with loose-joint hinges, so that by opening the chamber and removing the partition 6 the float can be moved toward end 11, which uncouples the hinges and thus allows the removal of the float and valve. The tape-red lug 14 on the inside of the end wall 13 (shown also by broken lines 14 in Fig. 1) bears against the edges of the float or adjacent hinge and prevents uncoupling of the hinges or lateral movement of the float when the chamber is closed.

The studs 7 and 7' are threaded and screwed into the top of the partitions, their height being thereby easily adjusted, so that the impinging ends of the chamber-top will force the partitions down firmly against the bottom of the trough.

In Figs. 2 and 3, 0 indicates the top or normal water-line when the float is up and valve closed, the lower edges of the chamber ends 13" and 13 dipping a little below the surface of the water, and the position of the float when the water in the drinking-compartments is depleted and the valve open is indicated by broken lines in Figs. 3and 1.

In operation the water-line in the chamber never falls below the tops of the partitions 6 and 6. As depletion takes place the float falls and forces the water beneath it up and out through the narrow horizontal slitsbetween the end walls of the chamber-top and the partitions 6 6. Simultaneously the sup ply-valve is opened and the supply flows from the top of the float down its edges and through the same openings into the drinking-compartments. hen the depletion ceases, the float gradually rises and the chamber below the float is filled with the water that flows down the edges of the float, a part of which flows out into the drinking-compartment until the normal level necessary to close the valve is attained. At no time during the operation is there any flow from the drinking-compartments to the chamber to carry in mud or 1itter. Further, the supply-opening from the chamber to the drinking-compartment is made long and horizontal and placed as high as possible, so that when one drinking-compartment only is emptied the draft on the opposite one is reduced to the minimum and its contents, with any deposit of mud, left nearly undisturbed, and as the vertical ends of the float are close to the narrow opening any floating litter, as straw or leaves, is arrested at this point, to be carried back afterward by the supply, and the ends 13 and 13 overhang the drinking-compartment, thus preventing anything that sinks entering the narrow opening. The narrow openings or slits are a little below the normal water-level to prevent any floating litter from entering said slits while the trough is standing full and also to allow the cover to dip enough to seal the chamber to prevent freezing therein, at the same time making the lower part of the partition as high as possible to prevent the swine from rooting mud from the drinking-compartment to thechamber and under the float.

By removing the screws which fasten the top 13 on the back 8 the top swings up and forward out of the way, taking the retaininglug 14. This allows the removal of the float and valve and the partitions, leaving the whole trough free for cleaning or repairs.

By the use of a large float hinged at one edge to swingas a flap-valve up against the open end of the inlet-pipe, turned downward, I avoid the shackly and expensive arrangement of separate float, lever, and valve heretofore used and attain a direct and positive action.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In an automatic watering trough having a dlinking-compartment and a supply-chamber inclosing a float and a valve to control the supply, the combination of a verticallyremovable partition fitted closely across the bottom and to the sides of the trough, and a hinged top to the chamber having an end to close on a stud projecting upward on top of the partition to hold the partition down and form a narrow horizontal opening, between the end of the top and said partition, to con nect the driliking-compartment and chamber substantially as described.

2. In an automatic watering-trough having a drinking-compartment and a supply-cham combination of a drinking-compartment, a.

chamber communicating therewith through a partition divided horizontally to form a nar* row opening just below the normal water-line, a supply inlet-pipe to discharge downward into the chamber, and a buoyant body hinged ICC at its edge to the wall of the chamber to swing narrow horizontal opening substantially as described.

5. In an automatic watering-trough the combination of a drinking-compartment in communication with a supply float and valve chamber having a hinged top, a supply-inlet Signed at Blair, in the county of Washingto the chamber, and a float hinged with looseton and State of Nebraska, this 1st day of joint hinges, to swing as a flap-valve to close" J nly, 1898.

the-inlet-opening, and a lug 0n the hinged FRED MARSH. 5 top to engage the loose-joint hinge and pre- Witnesses:

Vent uncoupling when the top is closed sub- J. F. BADGEROW,

stantially as described. LOU. VAUGHAN. 

